The ending anticyclone brought record-high, spring-like temperatures reaching up to 28.6°C in parts of Spain in the final days of February. However, the meteorological situation is changing. An Atlantic front approaching will bring rainfall to many regions of the country on Friday and over the weekend. AEMET predicts increased cloud cover, local scattered showers, and possible storms, especially in the north and west of the peninsula. In Madrid and other Mediterranean regions, rain is expected to be only passing, and the weekend looks more sunny. In some areas, like Vitoria-Gasteiz, clear skies will persist.
End of High Temperatures
The period of exceptionally high, spring-like temperatures exceeding norms by 5-10°C, which ended with a record 28.6°C in the town of Zumaia, is coming to an end due to a change in atmospheric circulation.
Atlantic Front with Precipitation
An atmospheric front from the Atlantic will bring increased cloud cover and scattered rain showers to many regions of Spain on Friday, February 27th, including Galicia, Cantabria, Asturias, and Castile and León. Storms are possible locally.
Precipitation Subsiding Over Weekend
Over the weekend, starting Saturday, precipitation is expected to gradually subside and the sky to clear. In Madrid and other Mediterranean regions, Friday's rainfall will be only passing, and Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be sunny and mild.
Weather Alerts on the Islands
In the Canary Islands, especially on Tenerife and Gran Canaria, the threat of intense rainfall and storms persists due to the DANA phenomenon. An orange alert is in effect on La Palma due to strong winds. In some continental regions, like the Strait of Gibraltar or the province of Cádiz, yellow alerts are in effect due to wind.
The end of February brought exceptionally high, almost summer-like temperatures to Spain, reaching up to 28.6°C in places, which significantly exceeded climatic norms for this time of year. However, the stable weather caused by the anticyclone is now ending. An Atlantic front is approaching the Iberian Peninsula, which first brought rain to Galicia and will gradually spread to other regions. The Spanish Meteorological Agency AEMET, founded in 1887, is a key institution monitoring and forecasting atmospheric conditions on the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands, playing an important role in managing risks associated with extreme weather events.On Friday, February 27th, increased cloud cover and scattered rain showers, locally with storms, are expected in the northern and western regions of the country, such as Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, or Castile and León. In Madrid, only sporadic, weak precipitation is forecast, which should not significantly disrupt the day. In other Mediterranean regions, the weather will also remain changeable but with a tendency to improve. The weekend, including the start of meteorological spring on March 1st, is shaping up to be more stable and clearer, although precipitation is still possible in some parts of the country. Particularly concerning forecasts concern the Canary Islands, where a DANA is forming. This phenomenon will bring moderate to intense rainfall, locally combined with storms, especially on Tenerife and Gran Canaria. On the island of La Palma, an orange alert has been declared due to strong winds, with gusts potentially reaching up to 90 km/h. Furthermore, residents of the archipelago must contend with calima, which drastically degrades air quality. In the continental area, the most difficult conditions are in the Strait of Gibraltar. The Levante wind in the province of Cádiz is reaching speeds of 80 km/h, which has forced the introduction of yellow alerts for the coast. Meanwhile, in the north, in Lugo and the Balearic Islands, the main problem is dense fog paralyzing land, sea, and air transport. Meteorologists emphasize that although the front will bring cooling and precipitation, daytime temperatures will still remain at levels more typical of April than the end of February.
Mentioned People
- Rubén del Campo — Spokesperson for the Spanish meteorological agency AEMET